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Now, time to pick your Umrao
JAVED SIDDIQUI, the dialogue writer of Muzaffar Ali?s Umrao Jaan Ada, says that researches have revealed that Mirza Hadi Ruswa?s Umrao was not real, born as she was out of the author?s imagination.
JAVED SIDDIQUI, the dialogue writer of Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan Ada, says that researches have revealed that Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s Umrao was not real, born as she was out of the author’s imagination.
“Had she been as good a poetess as is depicted through the novel the poetic records of those times must have had a mention of Umrao Jaan. But, if you browse through the records of 19th century Lucknow, you won’t find any mention of Lucknow’s best known courtesan,” Siddiqui told HT Lucknow Live on phone
But, as JP Dutta’s Umrao Jaan gets ready for an all India release on Friday, the big debate ahead of the release is focused on whose ‘Umrao is more real?’
“Pick your Umrao after watching Dutta saheb’s film,” said Siddiqui.
While Lucknow, where Mirza’s Ameeran who later became Umrao Jaan, spent her life and times, is swearing by Ali’s Umrao, Mumbai’s film fraternity is more guarded in its response.
“Every remake is a challenge,” said Siddiqui as he refused to get drawn into Ali’s-Rekha-vs-Dutta’s-Aishwarya debate before the movie’s release.
But, Nikhil, producer of such films as Dil Mange More and Anthony Kaun Hai told this newspaper that remakes would always attract comparison with the original effort.
“Those who have watched the original would always find the remake difficult to accept simply because the original has more appeal and more value. But, those born in the remake era wouldn’t be able to notice the difference anyway,” he said over phone.
The hype surrounding Dutta’s modern Umrao is all the more for it comes at a time when the industry suddenly seems to be recreating the Dons and the Sholays, with Gabbar wielding a sophisticated firearm in an urban setting. But, while Sholay II has landed in a controversy with Ramesh Sippy claiming that his Sholay can’t be re-created, Don II has twisted the climax scene, giving rise to fears that Umrao Jaan’s remake too may be out of sync with the original.
However, JP Dutta, feels that comparisons between the two films are misplaced.
“My Umrao has nothing to do with Ali Saheb’s Umrao. It’s my interpretation of Mirza saheb’s novel,” he said. Friday would clear all confusion.
